A Public Lecture: Language, Gest, Gesture and Images Shaping the “White Savior” in Cinema and Action Movies
Arba Minch University (AMU) Internationalization and Collaboration Directorate in collaboration with Charles University Faculty of Arts of Czech Republic held a public lecture on how language, gest, and visuals shape the “White Savior” in action films on February 11/ 2025 at Chamo Campus. Staffs from English language and Literature Department and others were in attendance.
AMU Academic, Internationalization and Collaboration/AMU-AIC/ Coordinator Adanech Zemede (PhD), during opening the program, said, the narrative trope of the “White Savior” is one way of the mass communication of cinema representing the sociology of race and ethnic relations by presenting abstract concepts; the morality and characteristics of the white races were exposed as if they were not to be found in non-white races; therefore, the aim of this public lecture is to aware the scholars and strengthen the ties between AMU and Charles University Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic. Dr. Adanech hoped that the collaboration will continue working on language and literature, culture, geology, and other areas according to the MoU inked in between the universities, she noted.
The Public speaker and a lecturer at Charles University Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic, Vojtëch ŠarŠe (PhD), speaking on his analyses of the post of the “White Savior” or the major character in cinema and action movies, said, the concept of the “White Saviorism” is used to build the white character to be depicted as if innately having heroic character traits of superiority and any sort of goodness whereas the non-white (black and caucasian) is to the post of evil generally and all sorts of weaknesses and inferiority in “The great Wall”, “The Last Samurai”, “Avatar”, and in many other action movies professionally enforcing the language, gest, gesture, and visuals to shape the “White Savior”.
The “White Saviorism” refers to the belief that the white people have a responsibility to save and protect the non-white indigenous peoples because of their superiority even though they often end up causing more harm than good, he remarked. The “white saviorism” ideology is a symptom of continued interest of racism and white supremacy which places the non-white in a position under the rule of the savior, the white, leaving the non-whites to oppression and exploitation, he added.
The attendees raised different questions for explanations and insights were shared during the discussion; it also significantly enriched the teaching experience offering a unique perspective on the future of literature in AMU in particular and Ethiopia in general.
Arba Minch University
The Center of Bright Future!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive
Arba Minch University (AMU) Internationalization and Collaboration Directorate in collaboration with Charles University Faculty of Arts of Czech Republic held a public lecture on how language, gest, and visuals shape the “White Savior” in action films on February 11/ 2025 at Chamo Campus. Staffs from English language and Literature Department and others were in attendance.
AMU Academic, Internationalization and Collaboration/AMU-AIC/ Coordinator Adanech Zemede (PhD), during opening the program, said, the narrative trope of the “White Savior” is one way of the mass communication of cinema representing the sociology of race and ethnic relations by presenting abstract concepts; the morality and characteristics of the white races were exposed as if they were not to be found in non-white races; therefore, the aim of this public lecture is to aware the scholars and strengthen the ties between AMU and Charles University Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic. Dr. Adanech hoped that the collaboration will continue working on language and literature, culture, geology, and other areas according to the MoU inked in between the universities, she noted.
The Public speaker and a lecturer at Charles University Faculty of Arts, Czech Republic, Vojtëch ŠarŠe (PhD), speaking on his analyses of the post of the “White Savior” or the major character in cinema and action movies, said, the concept of the “White Saviorism” is used to build the white character to be depicted as if innately having heroic character traits of superiority and any sort of goodness whereas the non-white (black and caucasian) is to the post of evil generally and all sorts of weaknesses and inferiority in “The great Wall”, “The Last Samurai”, “Avatar”, and in many other action movies professionally enforcing the language, gest, gesture, and visuals to shape the “White Savior”.
The “White Saviorism” refers to the belief that the white people have a responsibility to save and protect the non-white indigenous peoples because of their superiority even though they often end up causing more harm than good, he remarked. The “white saviorism” ideology is a symptom of continued interest of racism and white supremacy which places the non-white in a position under the rule of the savior, the white, leaving the non-whites to oppression and exploitation, he added.
The attendees raised different questions for explanations and insights were shared during the discussion; it also significantly enriched the teaching experience offering a unique perspective on the future of literature in AMU in particular and Ethiopia in general.
Arba Minch University
The Center of Bright Future!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive
